Patent · US Expired

Line protector for a communication circuit

US5910877A · kind A · utility

9Cited by
17References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 17, 1997
Grant dateJun 8, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 17, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01T1/14
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A novel current-limiting line protector for a communications circuit is disclosed, and includes a first and second incoming conductive member, a one piece roll-formed conductive member conductively coupled to each incoming conductive member, a ground member, an S-shaped spring in slidable contact with the ground member, and a first and second diode and solder member combination conductively coupled to the first and second incoming conductive members and disposed between the spring and the incoming conductive members. Each diode and solder member combination maintains the spring and the respective incoming conductive member in spaced, non-conducting relation while each solder member remains substantially intact. However, when excessive current is conducted along either incoming conductive member, the respective solder member deforms allowing the spring to slide toward the respective incoming conductive member and along the ground member and form at least a portion of a conductive path from the respective incoming conductive member to the ground member. The line protector is non-resetting after the spring has displaced along the ground member.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.